Toothbrush holder

ABSTRACT

An elongated “L” shaped toothbrush holder that consist of a back plate ( 10 ) with two holes ( 12 ) for securing to the wall or flat surface. The toothbrush holder has abase ( 14 ) that has 12 holes that go from top, into, and threw the bottom of base ( 14 ) for letting the toothbrush handles go into the top of base ( 14 ) and threw the bottom of base ( 14 ). Holding the toothbrush in a vertical fashion. The base ( 14 ) has four notches that will hold toothbrushes vertically when clipped into the notchs, holding the bristles of the toothbrush off the base ( 14 ).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application refers to the benefit of U.S. Design Pat. No. D425,349by the present inventor.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

This invention relates to Toothbrush Holders, specifically to suchholders that hold toothbrushes of varied design handles in a verticalfashion.

2. Prior Art

The present invention relates to toothbrush holders, more directlytowards the holding of toothbrushes in a vertical fashion.

In recent years, the toothbrush manufacturing industry have begunmanufacturing toothbrushes with a variety of designed handles, sometoothbrushes having large handles, with some toothbrushes having smallhandles.

In U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,978,003, D478,230, and 6,497,236 the toothbrushholder is a vase like holder made of plastic, clay, or of glass, inwhich the toothbrush handle is put inside the vase and held in avertical position.

A need has come about for an invention to be of a mount on the walltoothbrush holder, that can hold the various design toothbrushes in avertical fashion. My U.S. Pat. No. D425,349 has such a design.

The object of the present invention is to keep toothbrushes readilyavailable for use when needed. The toothbrush holder, holds toothbrushesvertical, holding the bristles of the toothbrush up and off the base ofthe holder. Allowing the toothbrush to air dry, helping in theelimination of bacteria build up on the bristles.

Originally toothbrushes were made of one size fits all. The toothbrushholders of past were made to hold toothbrushes of one size and stylehandles, allowing the bristles to touch the surface of the holder.

Therefore, inventors were limited to make a toothbrush holder with ahole that was rectangle in shape and no more than four holes in theholder. Holding no more than four toothbrushes.

Several types of toothbrush holders have come about since the inventionof the varied designs of toothbrushes, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,802,255,D347,736, D358,486, 5,742,972, 4,672,706, 6,990,706, 6,983,507.

With the invention of today's toothbrushes came the invention oftoothbrush holders, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. D478,230, 6,497,236,D481,572, that hold toothbrushes in a clay, ceramic, glass, or plasticvase.

Therefore, the vase style toothbrush holder collects water runoff fromthe toothbrush handle and bristles, that begin and does accumulate inthe bottom of the case. With the build up of residue from the usersmouth, comes the build up of bacteria in the vase. Making the toothbrushunsanitary for use in the mode it was designed for. The user of thetoothbrush holder vase would remove the toothbrushes, wash out andsanitize the vase, eliminating the bacteria build up.

The advantage of this invention, is that it has a place where the usercan put his or hers toothbrushes securely and ready for use with out aslimy build up of bacteria on the handle.

The consumer at this point, need not have to look about the sink, themedicine cabinet, or flip around threw a drawer, looking for his or herstoothbrush.

The intent of this invention, is that it is invented so one could mountthe Toothbrush Holder on a wall, a door of a medicine cabinet, or a flatporous or non porous surface.

With the vase or suction cup toothbrush holder, U.S. Pat. Nos. D498,958,and 6,279,742. The consumer is limited in putting the suction cup andvase holder in a limited place.

The disadvantage of the suction cup toothbrush holder, is that when thesuction cup loses it's suction the unit falls to the floor or thenearest surface under it. The surface for the suction cup to work, mustbe of smooth flat non porous surface. Working then, for short periods oftime.

The consumer would then pick it up, wetting the suction cup, put it backon the surface it fell from or on a new surface they choose.

With the glass, clay, ceramic, metal or plastic vase, the consumer islimited to where one can put the vase. If the vase is put in a unsafelocation the vase may fall and break, leaving the consumer without aplace to put his or hers toothbrush.

The consumer of the vase type toothbrush holder must put the vase on theback of the sink or in the medicine cabinet, not letting air get to thevase to dry the bristles of the toothbrush. The consumer may put thevase in the shower on a shower caddy, U.S. Pat. Nos. D496,549, D485,462,D485,104, D475,560.

The disadvantage of putting toothbrushes in a shower, is that in theshower one has soap, dirty water, shampoo, and hair gels being used andflung about the shower as one washes themselves.

Along with the dirty water, soaps, and shampoos is bacteria and germsthat one washes from themselves that get onto the shower walls andanything that is in the shower. Such as the shower caddy and thetoothbrush holder vase and the toothbrushes it may hold.

Having the toothbrush in the shower, one has exposed the toothbrush towater and bacteria, Therefore, not allowing the toothbrush to properlyair dry.

With the invention I propose, the standing of toothbrushes in a verticalposition. The bacteria and waters from using the toothbrush are notbeing collected in a vase. Instead, the bristles are being held into theair allowing the bristles to drip and air dry, virtually eliminating thebuild up of bacteria.

In so, the toothbrush holder I propose is designed so that the consumercan pull the toothbrushes out of the holder and clean the toothbrushholder with a wipe of a cloth or sponge like cleaning devise.

The toothbrush holder is designed so the consumer can put the holdernear to or over their sink, away from the splash of water or dirty soapywater.

The shower caddy, U.S. Pat. No. D485,104, will hold toothbrushes in avertical fashion threw holes that are circular, allowing the bristles ofa toothbrush to rest on the surface around the holes. Thus allowing thebuild up of bacteria on the bristles of the toothbrush.

Therefore, with the build up of bacteria on the bristles, the consumerwould have to sterilize the toothbrush before use to eliminate thebacteria that may cause gum disease.

The manufacturing of the toothbrush holder can be done in an inexpensivemanor. With the use of air injected plastics, the toothbrush holder canbe manufactured in quantity so as one could purchase the product withlittle expenditure.

The toothbrush holder can be produced in a variety of colors to matchthe decor of the consumers bathroom or room the consumer may wish todisplay the toothbrush holder.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

The objects and advantages before mentioned in the closures, describedin my patent. Can now be present are;

(a) To provide a one place for storing toothbrushes.

(b) To hold toothbrushes in a vertical fashion.

(c) To hold more than four toothbrushes.

(d) Easily mounts on walls or flat surface.

(e) no messy bacteria build up.

(f) Will not slip off walls or flat surface.

(g) Allows toothbrushes to air dry.

(h) Easily wipes clean.

(i) Inexpensive to manufacture.

(j) Manufactured in a variety of colors.

Other objects of the present invention is that it will hold other teethcleaning instruments the consumer can purchase at the pharmacy,drugstore, or retail outlet. Such as dental picks, dental mirrors, anddental floss picks U.S. Pat. No. 5,704,379. Along with toothbrushes ofchildren, young adult, older adult, denture cleaning toothbrushes andthe toothbrush of the family pet cat or pet dog.

The object of the present invention is to have a secure wall mountedtoothbrush holder, that will hold toothbrushes from childrens to adultto denture cleaning toothbrushes. Holding the toothbrushes in a verticalfashion, with the bristles up off the base allowing the bristles to airdry. Helping in the elimination of bacteria BUILD UP ON THE BRISTLES.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 TOP VIEW, Shows the placement and design of holes necessary tohold toothbrushes.

FIG. 2 BOTTOM VIEW, Shows the holes of the top view that go into andthrew the base coming out of the bottom of the base.

FIG. 3 FRONT VIEW, Shows what the toothbrush holder looks like if put ateye level, showing the mounting holes in the back and the cuts used tohold toothbrushes on the front edge.

FIG. 4 BACK VIEW, Shows the mounting holes as they are on the front fromthe back side allowing the holder to be secured to a wall or flatsurface.

FIG. 5 LEFT VIEW, Shows how the holder looks like at eye level and thethickness of the back and the thickness of the base from the left end.Showing the “L” shape of the toothbrush holder.

FIG. 6 RIGHT END VIEW, Shows the thickness of the back and the thicknessof the base from eye level and the reverse of the “L” shape of thetoothbrush holder.

FIG. 7 ISOMETRIC VIEW, Shows the toothbrush holder at a forty fivedegree angle, giving perspective to the front view, right end view, andthe top view showing the thickness of the elongated “L” shape and allholes and cuts that apply to this patent.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

-   10. Back    -   10A. Right/Left back ends    -   10B. Top of back    -   10C Back of back-   12. Mounting holes-   14. Base    -   14A. Right/Left base ends    -   14B Front end of base-   16. ¼ inch diameter circular hole-   18. ½ inch by ⅝ inch rectangle hole-   20. ½ inch by 5/16 inch outside diameter hole, with a 7/16 inch    center point-   22. Three sided ¼ inch by ¼ inch by ¼ inch cut-   24. ¼ inch by ⅜ inch rectangle hole-   26. Three sided ¼ inch by 5/16 inch by ¼ inch cut-   28. 7/16 inch by ¼ inch outside diameter hole, with a ⅜ inch center    point-   30. Center point of base and back

Description—FIGS. 1 to 7

A mount on the wall or flat surface air injected one piece moldedplastic “L” shaped device. Measuring in length of six and one halfinches and a width of one and nine sixteenth inches across the bottom ofbase 14, from the front of base 14B to the back of back 10C. With awidth of one and seven sixteenth inches across the top of base 14, fromthe front of base 14, known as 14B, to the front of the back 10.

With the back 10 of the “L” shape having a height of one and threesixteenth inches from the bottom of base 14 along the back of back 10Cto the top of back 10, known as 10B, a length of six and one halfinches. With the back 10 having a thickness of one eight inch and thebase 14 having a thickness from, the bottom of base 14 to the top ofbase 14 from one eight inch to five sixteenth inch going the length andthe width of base 14.

There are two holes 12, with a inside measurement of one eight inch indiameter in the back 10 of the toothbrush holder that go from the frontof back 10, into, and threw the back of back 10C. The holes of back 10have a center point from the right/left ends 10A, of one inch. With acenter point from the top of back 10, known as 10B, at one inch alongthe top 10B from the right/left ends 10A down towards base 14, of onehalf inch. The base 14 and the back 10 are of one mold.

The base has sixteen cut outs that consist of twelve design holes thatgo from the top, into, and threw the bottom of base 14. With four cutsthat are three sided cuts along the front edge 14B of base 14, that gofrom the top, into and threw the bottom of base 14.

The base 14, is designed to hold toothbrushes snugly in a verticalfashion, keeping the bristles of the toothbrush off the base 14. Withthe handles of the toothbrushes penetrating the base 14, from the top,into, and threw the bottom of base 14.

The toothbrush holder has a center point 30 from the outside edge of theback 10A and from the outside edge of the base 14A. The center point 30is three and one fourth inch from the right edge 10A and 14A and threeand one fourth inch from the left edge 10A and 14A.

From the center point 30 of the back 10 and the base 14 to the rightedge 10A and 14A and from center point 30 to the left edge 10A and 14Aare identical in shape and measurement. For each respected part, back 10and base 14, all measurements will be from the right outside ends 10Aand 14A, and from the left outside ends 10A and 14A. Therefore, allmeasurements will be referred to as from the right/left outside ends 10Aor 14A. Such as from the right/left end 14A along the top of base 14towards center point 30, or along the front of back 10 towards thecenter point 30. Measurements going from the back 10 to the front ofbase 14, will be referred to as from the front of back 10 towards thefront of base 14B.

From the right/left end 14A along the top of base 14 at the base of thefront of the back 10, go one eight inch towards center point 30.Beginning at one eight inch, there is the first hole 18 on both theright and left ends of base 14. The hole 18 goes along the front of theback 10, for a width of one half inch. The hole 18 turns 90° towards thefront of the base 14B to a length of five eighths inch in a straightline. Stopping there, turning 90° and going back towards the end of base14A for one half inch, stopping at one eight inch from the outside end14A. The hole 18 turns another 90° towards the point of origin fiveeighths inch stopping at the point of origin at the base of back 10 andone eight inch from the outside end 14A of base 14. Hole 18 is rectangleand goes from the top, into and threw the bottom of base 14. Hole 18will hold denture toothbrushes like American fare, BUTLER G.U.M., andOral-B cross action.

Going along the top of base 14 from the outside right/left ends 14Atowards center point 30, one and one half inch and three eighths inchfrom the front of the back 10. Is the center point of a circular hole16, that has a inside diameter measurement of one fourth inch. The hole16 goes from the top, into and threw the bottom of base 14. The hole 16is for children toothbrushes, such as Oral-B Barbie and dental mirrorsand dental picks.

Going along the top of base 14 from the outside right/left ends 14A to abeginning point of seven eighths inch from the right/left ends 14A andfive eighths inch from the front of the back 10, is the beginning pointof hole 20. Going from point of origin towards center point 30 of thebase 14, one half inch in a straight line. Turning 90° towards the frontof the base 14B, go in a straight line five sixteenth inch. From the endof the five sixteenth line go back towards the outside end 14A with anoutward curve that curves outward towards the front of base 14B, aboutone half inch. Stopping about five sixteenth inch across from point oforigin. From there going at a 90° angle in a straight line to the pointof origin. The center point of hole 20 from the center of the half inchstraight edge to the center point of the curve edge has a insidemeasurement of about seven sixteenth inch. The hole 20 goes from thetop, into, and threw the bottom of base 14. Hole 20 holds toothbrushessuch as ORAL-B, Gum, REACH, Crest, Aquafresh.

From the outside edge of the right/left ends 14B, go one and fiveeighths inch and five eighths inch from the front of the back 10, to abeginning point. At the beginning point in a straight line go towardscenter point 30 of base 14 one half inch. From there turn 90° towardsfront of base 14B about five sixteenth inch in a straight line. At fivesixteenth inch turn 90° towards base ends 14A. Going in an outwardcurve, that curves outwardly towards the front of the base 14B about onehalf inch, to a point five sixteenth inch across from the point oforigin. Turning 90° towards the front of the back 10, go in a straightline towards the front of the back 10, stopping at the point of origin.The center point of hole 20, from the center point of the half inchstraight edge to the center point of the half inch curve edge has ainside measurement of about seven sixteenth inch with the hole 20 goingfrom the top, into, and threw the bottom of the base 14.

From the outside edge of the right/left ends 14A going towards thecenter point 30 of base 14, go one eight inch and from the front of thebase 14B going towards the front of the back 10, go one eight inch for abeginning point. Starting at the beginning point, go towards the frontof the back 10 in a straight line one fourth inch. Turning 90° towardsthe center point 30 in a straight line three eighths inch. Turning 90°towards the front of the base 14B in a straight line one fourth inch,stopping. Turning 90° towards the outside ends 14A three eighths inch tothe point of origin. The hole 24 goes from the top, into and threw thebottom of the base 14. Hole 24 is rectangle in shape. Hole 24 is made tohold toothbrush like ORAL-B barbie, dental floss flossers, pet teethcleaning toothbrush, and dental mirrors.

From the outside edge of the right/left ends 14A along the front end ofthe base 14B, go seven eighths inch along the front end 14B to abeginning point. Turning 90° towards the front of the back 10, go onefourth inch in a straight line. Turning 90° towards center point 30 ofthe base 14, go about one fourth inch in a straight line. Turning 90°towards the front of the base 14B in a straight line, stopping at theedge of the front of the base 14B. This three sided notch 26 goes fromthe top, into, and threw the bottom of the base 14. Notch 26 is used tohold toothbrushes right below the bristles such as Colgate, BATMAN,SPIDERMAN, BRATZ, crest and Mentadent.

From the outside edge of the right/left end 14A of the base 14 go alongthe front end 14B of the base 14, to a beginning point of two and oneeight inch. This is the beginning point, turn 90° towards the front ofthe back 10, one fourth inch in a straight line. Turning 90° towards thecenter point 30 of the base 14, about five sixteenth inch. Turning 90°and in a straight line go back towards the front edge 14B of the base 14one fourth inch stopping at the front of the base 14B. This three sidenotch 26 goes from the top, into, and threw the bottom of the base 14.This notch 26 is made to hold toothbrushes with bigger than usual neckbelow the bristles, such as Aquafresh, Colgate, and battery poweredtoothbrushes like Crest BRATZ and SONIC.

Going from the outside edge of the right/left ends 14A to a beginningpoint of two and nine sixteenth inches and from the front edge 14B ofthe front of the base 14 towards the front of the back 10 one eight inchto a beginning point. From the beginning point go towards the centerpoint 30 in a straight line about seven sixteenth inch. Turning 90° gotowards the front of the back 10 one fourth inch in a straight line.Turning 90° going in a outside curvature line, with the outside curvetowards the front of the back 10, about seven sixteenth inch, stoppingat about one fourth inch across from the point of origin. Turning 90° ina straight line go towards the point of origin, stopping at point oforigin. This hole 28 goes from the top, into and threw the bottom of thebase 14. Hole 28 is made to hold toothbrushes such as Crest, DENTAX,REACH and some childrens toothbrushes.

On the front of the back 10 are two hole 12 that is one eight inch indiameter. The holes 12 is located one inch from the right/left ends 10Atowards center point 30. The holes 12 having a center point at one inchfrom right/left ends 10A and one half inch from the top of back 10B. Thehole 12 goes from the front, into, and threw the back of the back 10C.Hole 12 is used for the securing of the toothbrush holder.

1. An elongated “L” shaped mount on the wall or device of flat surface toothbrush holder that is of a smooth flat surface, with a base that can be from one eight inch in thickness to five sixteenth inch in thickness and six and one half inches in length and one and nine sixteenth inches inches in width from the front of base along the bottom of the base to the back of the back plate, consisting of twelve holes that go from the top of the base, into and threw the bottom of the base and four three sided notches in the edge of the base. With the back plate being one inch in height from the top of the base to the top of the back plate, that consist of two holes that go from the front, into and threw the back of the back plate. 